Stress Busters: 5 Home Improvements That Also Make You Feel Better

Tough time at work? In a spat with your partner? The stress we feel in these times is the body's fight or flight hormones kicking in. Though you may just want to curl up in the fetal position or eat spoonfuls of ice cream from the carton, doing something physical is a better release for those stress hormones. Here are five ways we can all relieve stress in a healthy way for our bodies while also improving our homes:

I've found that the more physical and less mental the task, the better. This is not the time to hang that gallery wall or wire a ceiling fan. Under stress, we must let go of energy while freeing the mind to meditate or reflect on the problem at hand. Generally, these types of home improvements are the odious tasks we put off from day to day. But they can be seen instead as welcome ways to blow off steam. These are five proven ones that have worked for me in times of stress:

Get dirty

Divide those irises. Rake leaves. Pick up fallen sticks or even clean the gutters. Getting your hands into dirt just makes you feel better.

Wash windows

Window washing takes elbow grease but not a lot of brain power. I like to really get into it, bending at the knee and swaying as I polish those windows. A loud soundtrack makes this even more of a stress reliever as you move to the beat.

Scrub baseboards

This is another one where you can really put your body behind it. Grab a bucket of lightly soapy warm water and a cleaning rag. On hands and knees, work your way around the perimeter of all rooms. Protective gear for your knees lets you really get into this without adding stress to your body. And when this task is behind you, you'll feel better just by seeing the resulting clean baseboards!

Clean something difficult

Vacuum the ceiling.

Paint a wall

The experts recommend releasing stress by scribbling freely on a sheet of paper. Take this a step further (and bigger) by scribbling on a wall that needs painting. Then paint it! Take only one wall at a time, as biting off more than you can chew will only add stress instead of relieving it.

What home improvements or chores do you take on when you're feeling stressed?